Volume 28, Number 1, February 1998

OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO ABA MEMBERS

You will soon be receiving your information for
nominating members to the ABA board of directors. Please give some
thought to which members you might like to have represent you and
also to your own willingness to serve in this capacity if you are
nominated.

Please make note of a change of address for the
secretary of the American Benedictine Academy. Send all
correspondence to:

It is not too soon to begin planning to attend the 1998 convention
of the American Benedictine Academy, which
will hold its assembly marking the 50th anniversary of the Academy at
Saint Vincent's Archabbey, Latrobe, PA, August 9-12, 1998.

This year's theme will be "Hospitality: Prism for the 21st
Century." In preparation for the biennial gathering, several persons
have submitted pre-convention reflection papers on the topic, which
were made available over the past year to anyone wishing to do some
personal reflection or discussion. The President's column for each
issue of the AMN over the last two years has also featured thoughts
on a variety of dimensions of this theme.

Various forms of engaging in aspects of hospitality will be
offered by speakers, including major addresses, responses, panels and
computer technology presentations. Demetrius Dumm, OSB, will open the
convention with his keynote address: "Hospitality: Prism for the 21st
Century Entertaining Divine Presence according to the Rule of
Benedict"; the response to this address will be given by Patricia
Kirk, OSB. Rosemary Rader, OSB, will speak on "Contemporary
Hospitality: Where the Present Becomes the Future," to which John
Klassen, OSB, will respond. Genevieve Glen, OSB, will challenge us
with "Dangerous Angels: The Demand of Liturgical Hospitality," with
response by Placid Solari, OSB.

Richard Oliver OSB and Diana Seago OSB
will offer reflections on hospitality and the Internet by means of their
talk, "The Pilgrim's Way in Cyberspace." This team will also offer an optional
session for viewing various Benedictine sites on the World Wide Web.
A session called "Field Report" comprised of Paul Schwietz OSB and
Carol Ann Wassmuth OSB will explore the topic of
hospitality to the environment from
their personal experiences of listening and responding to the land.

The meeting will begin on Sunday afternoon, August 9, with
registration and section meetings. Although there are three official
sections:  Monastic Researchers, Archivists and Visual Artists 
other special interest groups are welcome to gather for informal meetings
by requesting space from the host community. The opening on Sunday
evening will feature a presentation of Benedictine art. The archabbey
will have rooms available for Saturday night stay for those traveling
by air.

Besides the formal presentations, there will also be tours of the
archabbey grounds, including the Gristmill, Archabbey Studios, and
the library with special exhibits of artifacts and art. Other
optional activities will include a tour of St. Emma's Monastery in
nearby Greensburg, PA, or of the archabbey wetlands project.
Participants are requested not to bring items to sell at the ABA
convention, however, ABA publications and tapes will be on sale.

Ample time between sessions allows for participants to engage in
informal dialogue and fun, so that there is balance of prayer,
learning and leisure. The convention will host its biennial business
meeting, where status reports on the various projects of the ABA are
shared and members will elect the board which will represent them
over the next two years. The Academy board is a seven-member team,
which coordinates all the activities of the ABA, whose purpose is to
foster Benedictine monastic values. This board plans the convention,
oversees the publication of the American Monastic Newsletter,
offers funds to individuals engaged in monastic scholarship and works
effectively to promote Benedictine research, spirituality and praxis.

The ABA convention is open to anyone with an interest in
Benedictinism. Almost two hundred men and women, Benedictine,
Cistercian, oblates, scholars and members of other religious orders
generally attend. This variety makes for one of the riches of the
convention experience. One need not be an ABA member to attend, but
membership provides discounted registration and ongoing participation
in the work of the ABA. Registration
materials (.gif) and schedule (.gif) are
available for printing. For more information or hardcopy
registration forms, call 1-724-532-6600 or write to: